Jonathan and squad,
Looking at the sweep of the evolution of the universe as we think we
understand it we see that evolution proceeds in a series of cycles. Energy
prods complexity, gravity takes advantage of falling local energy levels to
form new supernovas which then explode to form new stars and planets, etc.
Projecting ahead it makes sense that these cycles will continue on a slowly
dimishing level of energy until all (?) matter congregates in one spot to
explode and begin a new universe.
Quality drives this energy in the direction of greater complexity until
replicating molecules and then life emerges on Earth.
Exploring all available possibilities Quality then pushes life (and
everything else) into states of increasing complexity until eventually our
present situation is reached. All of this reaching for higher levels of
evolution and complexity is a seamless progression which, if we could
penetrate the complexity and view the process as it occurred, would make
perfect sense to us. At no point does evolution pause and say, "Enough of
this inorganism, now I'm going to make a little life." Also, at no point
does evolution (Quality) say that biology is shutting down to make room for
society. Similarly there is no apparent sharp changeover from society to
intellect.
It seems to me that the same processes that we can glimpse in the
universe at large hold true for life on the planet Earth. Looking back over
the story of the evolution the Earth and the life on it it seems to me that
the process of entropy is going on not only with the inorganic Earth but
also with the burden of the life it is carrying. As Quality drives life,
and particularly humanity, toward greater intellect we can see that there
is a race going on between greater human intellect and the wisdom and
understanding that we are capable of applying to the overall functioning of
the biosphere, including us. We have noticeably disrupted the gaseous
envelope of the Earth. I have heard on NPR lately that a significant
portion of the greenhouse gases are produced by power plants. Hard to
curtail those quickly without a lot of social disruption. We have become
so numerous that we are forced to use cancer inducing chemicals to produce
enough food. New viruses are appearing on Earth possibly because of
overpopulation. In the US we are advised to get our flu shots two weeks
early because of influenza imported from Alaska on cruise ships. El Nino is
particularly active because we are raising the temperature of the Earth. A
large part of North Carolina has been under water for some weeks. A large
atmospheric hole lies over a large part of Antarctica. I can't account for
the spate of earthquakes that have occurred this year. I also don't know
how many small wars are going on right now, but there are a bunch.
I hate to be so pessimistic but it seems to me that the fifth level could
possibly turn out to be self destruction. I don't think that we can
completely destroy ourselves, just drastically reduce our numbers. That may
be the only way that we can get to a fifth level, that is by rubbing our
noses in our stupidity until we are forced to become wise.
So far the increase in intellect has only gotten us into deeper trouble.
Without a drastic change in world mindset I can't see a fifth level doing
anything but getting us in deeper. Please show me where I am wrong. Ken.
MOQ.org - http://www.moq.org
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